DATE=7/6/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CHINA-US-ARMS (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-264126
BYLINE=ROGER WILKISON
DATELINE=BEIJING
CONTENT=

VOICED AT:


INTRO:  China and the United States are scheduled to 
resume talks on arms control and non-proliferation 
Friday more than a year after Beijing suspended them 
after NATO's bombing of its embassy in Yugoslavia.  As 
VOA correspondent Roger Wilkison reports, though both 
sides are embroiled in disputes over disarmament 
matters, the two-day talks mark a near complete return 
to normal relations between the two countries.

TEXT:  Neither side is saying officially what will be 
on the agenda of the talks, but each has its own list 
of priorities for discussion.

Diplomats say privately that the U-S delegation -- led 
by President Clinton's top advisor on arms control, 
John Holum - will want to discuss allegations of 
continuing Chinese help for Pakistan's missile 
programs.

The Chinese have a longer laundry list.  They are 
opposed to U-S plans for national and regional missile 
defense systems, U-S arms sales to Taiwan and U-S 
attempts to thwart Israel's planned sale of an 
airborne radar system to Beijing.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Sun Yuxi -speaking 
to reporters Thursday through an interpreter- says 
Washington's plan to develop a U-S-wide defense 
against ballistic missiles will trigger a renewed arms 
race.

/// INTERPRETER ACTUALITY ///

We believe it is against the trend of the times and is 
not conducive to the international disarmament and 
arms control effort.  And it will have a negative 
impact on the global and regional strategic balance 
and stability.

/// END ACTUALITY ///

China has joined Russia in opposing the national 
missile defense system and has said it may have to add 
to its own arsenal if the U-S project goes ahead.  But 
China's main concern is a so-called theater missile 
defense, or TMD, which Washington has proposed for its 
allies and troops in Asia.  China fears it will be 
used to shelter Taiwan and thwart China's 
reunification with the island.

/// INTERPRETER ACTUALITY ///

If any country would like to include Taiwan in the TMD 
system, that will constitute a gross violation of 
China's sovereignty and territorial integrity and will 
surely meet with strong opposition of the Chinese 
side.

/// END ACTUALITY ///

Chinese spokesman Sun earlier this week denied that 
China is selling Pakistan missile technology and 
labeled as groundless a report in the New York Times 
quoting U-S intelligence agencies as saying China 
continues to provide missile components and technical 
aid to Islamabad.

Though Washington and Beijing are not likely to see 
eye-to-eye on any of these arms control and non-
proliferation issues, the resumption of a formal 
dialogue on the subject is another step toward normal 
ties after the Belgrade embassy bombing.

A similar dialogue on human rights remains suspended 
because China sees open U-S criticism of its human 
rights record as interference in its own affairs.  And 
-in a sign that fully normal relations are not in the 
cards just yet-- Mr. Sun says Beijing is still waiting 
for the United States to give it a satisfactory 
explanation of the embassy bombing.  Washington -which 
has provided Beijing compensation for the victims and 
for property damage- says it has already done so.  
(signed)


NEB/HK/RW/GC/PLM 



06-Jul-2000 05:58 AM EDT (06-Jul-2000 0958 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.